Print, Light, Stop: a Mini 3D Printed Traffic Signal

In order to preserve the safety of drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists, our existing transportation system significantly relies on traffic lights. You may have thought about creating a little traffic signal for yourself, though. Thanks to 3D printing technology, you can do it! This post will instruct you on how to create a little traffic light that may be used as a fun decoration or practical teaching tool.

First, we need to design and 3D print the structure, LED casing, and circuitry for the mini traffic signal light. You can create such a structure with glue and cardboard if you don't have access to a 3D printer. We will also require the following materials in addition to these 3D-printed parts:

• 2 x 555 Timer ICs
• LEDs: 1 Red, 1 Yellow, 1 Green
• Resistors: 2 x 330R, 180R
• Variable resistors: 2x 100K
• Capacitors: 2 x 100uF
• Breadboard
• Single Strand wire
• (5-12)V Power Supply
• Perforated PCB board
• 6x Header pins (male and Female each)
• 3D printed Structure / Casing for LEDs and circuitry
• Body of the used pen

Along with these components, we will need the following tools and instruments:

• Soldering Iron
• Soldering wire and Paste
• Multimeter
• Tweezer

The initial stage of the process involves designing a miniature traffic light. Any 3D design software will do; I've used Solidworks, but for simplicity, we recommend using Tinkercad, a free online design tool. First, construct a box to house your traffic signal. Additionally, a platform for the red, yellow, and green lights to sit on must be made. Don't forget to leave space inside the enclosure for the electronics.

The CAD and STL files for these pieces are attached below if you want to download them.

Once you've finished designing your traffic signal, it's time to print it. You can use any 3D printer that can process small designs. PLA filament is an excellent option for this project because it is readily available and straightforward to use. We suggest using a layer height of 0.2 mm for the best results.

STL files for the G-code preparation using any slicing software, are given in the above section. You can download those files.

Here, I have used PLA filament for printing these parts using a custom-made 3D printer.

We have structural parts of our mini traffic light, now it's time to prepare the electronics part of the project. The main electronics components of this project are 555 Timer IC. Here we connect all the electronic components to the 555 timer IC as per the given circuit diagram. The circuit diagram for this project has been attached here.

1. Prepare the circuit on the perforated PCB board.
2. Solder all the components and connect them using single-strand wire.
3. Check all the connections using a multimeter, it will help to resolve the loose connection problem quickly.
4. Connect the wires with all three LEDs - Red, yellow, and Green, through the resistors.
5. The wire should be long enough so that it can come outside the structural part and connect with the developed circuit on the perforated board through the header pins.
6. Connect the female headers on the perforated board for the connection of LEDs.

After preparing the electronic circuit, and connecting the LEDs. It's time to assemble all the parts to form the mini traffic signal light.

1. Insert all three LEDs in the holes at the proper position - Red at the top Green at the bottom, and yellow in between these two.
2. insert the wires from all three LEDs in the column/pillar of the traffic signal (Here, the body of a pen is being used as a pillar for the traffic light).
3. Pass the wires through the base (yellow color) also
4. Solder the male header pins to these wires
5. Wires are now ready to be inserted in the proper place (in the female headers) on the developed circuit board

The final step is the test of the traffic signal. By attaching the developed circuit board to a power source, you may check to see if the traffic lights are functioning properly. Here, I have used a 12V 2 amp adapter as the power source. In my case traffic signal is working properly on connecting with the power source.

But, Frequently, we encounter issues such as loose connections, improper soldering, incorrect component polarity, and others, which can cause problems in our projects. If you face such an issue, check it using the multimeter.

Anyone can create a straightforward and enjoyable 3D-printed miniature traffic signal if they have the required tools and a little bit of knowledge. With the aid of this project, you may create a one-of-a-kind decoration or teaching tool. By following these simple instructions, you may make your own traffic signal and bring a tiny section of the road into your house.

Thanks for reading!

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